Autumn Breakthrough Strategy is 'Prosecutor Reform'... Prosecutors Summoned Minister Chu's Son Yesterday (Comprehensive)

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is entering the extraordinary Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 10th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy reporters Seokjin Choi and Kyunghwan Bae] The prosecution investigating allegations of “failure to return from leave” involving Chu Mi-ae, Minister of Justice, and her son Seo Mo (27), summoned Seo for questioning eight months after receiving the complaint.

On the 14th, the Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Deok-gon) announced that Seo was summoned and questioned as a suspect the previous day. On the 12th, A, who was a secretary to Minister Chu during her time as a member of the National Assembly, was also summoned for questioning.

The prosecution questioned Seo about whether he had ever asked Minister Chu’s 2017 secretary to call the military unit regarding the leave issue, but Seo reportedly responded that “there was no procedural illegality.”

As suspicions surrounding Seo continued to escalate and criticism over the delayed investigation grew, the investigation team appears to have decided to conclude the investigation as quickly as possible.

Minister Chu expressed her feelings about the matter for the first time on her Facebook page the day before, but since she mostly denied the allegations and clearly stated she had no intention of resigning under the pretext of prosecutorial reform, criticism has arisen.

Meanwhile, Minister Chu is scheduled to attend her second National Assembly interpellation since taking office on the same day, but it is expected that there will be no change in her stance beyond what she posted on Facebook.

Regarding prosecutorial reform, she stated on Facebook, “I believe that fulfilling my responsibilities unwaveringly is the will of the people and my fateful duty. I will definitely complete prosecutorial reform,” suggesting that she is likely to attempt a direct confrontation over the controversy involving her son, using the completion of prosecutorial reform as justification.

This aligns with her continued efforts to check the prosecution despite the recent intensifying controversy. On the 10th, she assigned Im Eun-jung, deputy chief prosecutor of the Ulsan District Prosecutors’ Office’s Important Economic Crimes Investigation Division, who has been a vocal internal critic of the prosecution, to oversee inspection duties at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office. The next day, she sent an email to all prosecutors and investigators urging them to prepare for prosecutorial reform.

Moreover, on the 11th, the Blue House issued a detailed rebuttal to the public petition for her dismissal, thereby gaining justification for a direct confrontation. The Blue House responded that all allegations included in the petition for Minister Chu’s dismissal, such as retaliatory personnel moves and improper exercise of investigative authority, were “normal performance of duties.”

Since the scheduled interpellation is in the “political” category, it is expected that various issues, including allegations of preferential military leave, requests and external pressure, as well as prosecutorial personnel matters, will be fiercely debated.

Members of the ruling Democratic Party defending Minister Chu are also expected to emphasize the prosecutorial reform frame alongside her. A National Assembly official stated, “Since the remarks exchanged during this interpellation will ultimately affect the prosecution’s investigation, intense confrontations between both sides are anticipated.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.